Few people dared to poke the bear that was prime Tiger Woods.

Stephen Ames famously once took a shot at golf’s most dominant force and paid a heavy price, losing 9&8 in their WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship match. Woods generally responded to trash talk by embarrassing his rivals out on the course. 

But when a young Rory McIlroy took a jab at Woods before the 2010 Ryder Cup, it seemed to rattle his cage. He sent back a cool six-word response to put the young superstar in his place. 

2010 was the beginning of the end of Woods’ prime on the PGA Tour. On-course injuries and off-course controversies had halted his relentless dominance, and that year marked the first time in his career he failed to win all season. 

That meant that in the build-up to the 2010 Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor, a young McIlroy singled out Woods as the player he’d most want to face. The 21-year-old told the BBC: “I would love to face Tiger.

“Unless his game rapidly improves in the next month or so, I think anyone in the European team would fancy his chances against him.”

Bold words from the young Northern Irishman, and not ones that landed well with Woods. At the BMW Championship in Chicago a week later, he confronted McIlroy about this in the locker room.

“Be careful what you wish for,” said the then 14-time major winner. Reports said there was no hint of jest in his words.

McIlroy’s words were then put to Woods in a press conference. He was asked what his reaction was to the young superstar saying he’d like to play him at the Ryder Cup, and he responded, “Me too”. When asked to elaborate, he said, “Nope,” with a smile, then a stare.

Woods’ reaction seemed to scare McIlroy, who tried to walk back his comments. “You’ve got to realise I said those things the week after he’d shot 18-over at Akron. He wasn’t playing too well at the time. He’s obviously getting his game together now.”

But as much as he tried to take them back, his words could not be unspoken, and the greatest golfer of all time had some bulletin board material for the Ryder Cup.

How Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy got on at the 2010 Ryder Cup

Unfortunately, we never got to see the Woods vs. McIlroy showdown at the 2010 Ryder Cup. And while Woods won the battle, you could argue McIlroy won the war at Celtic Manor.

Woods, who had a historically poor record at the competition, having won only one in his entire career, had his best Ryder Cup. He went 3-1-0, won both matches on Friday, and beat Francesco Molinari 4&3 on Sunday.

McIlroy, meanwhile, was making his Ryder Cup debut, and after calling out the greatest golfer of all time, there was significant pressure on his young shoulders. He didn’t live up to his words, finishing 1-1-2 over the three days.

But while Woods outclassed McIlroy individually, it didn’t cost Europe. They won 14.5-13.5 to win the Ryder Cup, kicking off a six year winning stretch where they won three events in a row.